First Steps in Christ–Step Three–Baptism

Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples in all the world. As they made disciples, they were to baptize the converts and teach the converts all that Jesus had commanded them. Only believers in Christ should be baptized, because baptism expresses the saving faith of the person being baptized. As people forgiven by Jesus Christ, we should be careful to follow His example and commandments. Jesus ordained baptism, which identifies you as a Christian and proclaims your decision to follow Jesus Christ.

Authority of Jesus Christ

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven an don earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always to the end of the age.'” │ Matthew 28:18-20, Page 1557

In Matthew 28, 18-20, we observe that Jesus had been crucified and resurrected. As He was about to ascend into heaven, He left final commands for His twelve disciples. He started by saying that all authority in heaven and on earth had been give to Him. Then, Jesus commanded His disciples to go into all the world making disciples of the nations: Jesus commanded: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19, Page 1557. Notice that all believers must be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Apostolic Practice

“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” │ Acts 2:41, Page 1703

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples, then known also as the apostles, were gathered together in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and the church was born. These apostles then preached in Jesus Christ to the crowds gathered in Jerusalem and thousands of people believed in Jesus Christ. The early church invited all believers to be baptized (Acts 2:38, 41, Page 1702) as a public proclamation of their faith in Jesus Christ as personal Savior (Romans 5:8-9, Page 1764).

Faith in Jesus Christ

“And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;” │ Acts 9:18, Page 1717

The New Testament writers taught that only believers in Christ underwent baptism (e.g., Acts 2:38,41, Page 1702; 8:12,Page 1714; 8:36-38, Page 1715; 9:18, Page 1717; 10:47, Page 1721; 16:14-15, Page 1732; 16:33, Page 1733; 18:8, Page 1736; 19:5, Page 1737). Baptism in the church occurred after personal salvation and only because of salvation. In other words, infants were not baptized (because they did not have saving faith), but rather new believers of all ages were baptized after they had been born again by faith (Acts 2:41, Page 1702; Ephesians 2:8-9, Page 1828; John 3:3, Page 1657). Believers are baptized because they have been saved from their sins and desire to identify themselves with Christ. The Ethiopian Eunuch listened to Philip preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him, and then proclaimed his need for baptism (Acts 8:34-39, Pages 17-15-1716). Immediately after believing, he received baptism. This pattern characterizes the practice of baptism immediately after salvation in the New Testament.

Baptism Proclaims Your Personal

Faith in Christ

“As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?'” │ Acts 9:18, Page 1717

Believers often received baptism immediately after conversion. The Ethiopian Eunuch sought to be baptized immediately after hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believing (Acts 8:25-40, Pages 1715-1716). Consider also the the Lord Jesus Christ Himself Who received baptism in the Jordan River and “fulfilled all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15, Page 1504). Immediately after Jesus rose from the water, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus as a dove and rested upon Him. Furthermore, a voice out of heaven said: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17, Page 1504). Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, He commanded His disciples to baptize believers. In Matthew 28:19, Page 1557 Jesus commanded: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Following the example and command of the Lord Jesus Christ, New Testament believers expressed their faith in Jesus Christ and proclaimed their salvation by receiving baptism. Jesus expected that every believer would be baptized. In the early church, we see the close relationship between salvation and baptism: “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41, Page 1703).

Identification with Christ

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, sot that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” │ Romans 6:4, page 1765

Baptism symbolizes the believer being submerged into the death of Christ and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life to the glory of God (Romans 6:4, Page 1765). Colossians 2:12, Page 1843 provides a similar view of baptism: “having been buried with Him in baptism in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” In both of these passages, baptism identifies the believer with Christ in two ways. First, each believer submerges in the water which pictures identification with the death and burial of Christ. Each believer has been crucified with Christ so that the old self with its passions and desires has died (Galatians 2:20, Page 1821;5:24, Page 1825). Second, every believer rises from baptism into the same standing that Christ had before God the Father (who said, “my Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased,”) because we have become the sons of God, and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14, Page 1769). Believers also called upon the name of Jesus Christ in baptism (Acts 22:16, Page 1745). Hebrews 10:22 (Page 1881) “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Cleansing Symbol. While the New Testament never teaches that baptism saves anyone, because only faith in Christ brings salvation (Romans 5:8-9, Page 1764; Ephesians 2:8-9, Page 1828), baptism does symbolize cleansing from sin. In Hebrews 10:22 (Page 1881), the believers draw near to God, “having hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Likewise, 1 Corinthians 6:11 (Page 1788) describes believers as “washed,” “sanctified,” and “justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” Ephesians 1:3 (Page 1827) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

Baptism: Ordinance, Not Sacrament

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”│ Ephesians 1:3, page 1827

When a person receives Christ and His forgiveness by faith, Christ enters his life as Lord and Savior. At that moment, the believer has been made complete in Christ and blessed with every blessing in Christ in the heavenly places, even while living on earth (Ephesians 1:3, Page 1827). The believer does not depend upon anything except direct union with God to bring grace into his life. In contrast, some churches wrongly teach that “sacraments” are a means of God’s grace. Indeed, some churches mislead believers by holding that in the sacraments, the benefits of the new covenant are sealed and applied to believers (Reformed Church, Roman Catholic Church). Therefore, because the Bible informs us that God’s grace comes by faith alone, we do not recognize “sacraments,” but understand that many people still use the term. In contrast, the term “ordinance” conveys the truth that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are symbols of great events in the life of the church, but never communicate God’s grace in themselves. For example, the Lord Jesus said that the cup of the Lord’s Supper “is the new covenant in My blood.” He meant that we drink the cup in remembrance of Him, not as an infusion of grace or the application of the New Covenant. As believers, we receive the blessings of the New Covenant by faith in Christ alone, so that we are a “letter of Christ,” written with the Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:2-3, Page 1807). Therefore, we serve as ministers of the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6, Page 1807), not because of the Lord’s Supper, but because of our faith in Christ. The New Testament knows nothing of “sacraments,” and never teaches that “sacraments” are a means of grace, or in any way seal or apply the New Covenant to believers. Furthermore, the New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit communicates all truth directly to believers (John 16:13, Page 1688; 1 John 2:27, Page 1906). Paul wrote: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13, Page 1797).

Union with the Body of Christ

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all made to drink of one Spirit.”│ 1 Corinthians 12:13, Page 1797

In baptism, the new believer identifies himself with Christ and with the body of Christ, the church. As individuals become believers in Christ, at the moment of spiritual rebirth, each believer joins the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Page 1796: the body of Christ has many members, but forms one body). Jesus Himself baptizes each believer in the Holy Spirit, and so we are all baptized into one body, the body of Jesus Christ, called the Church. Likewise, believers also become united together as one holy temple of the Lord, and “are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22, Page 1829).

Baptism Never Saves

“And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise.'” │ Luke 23:43, Page 1650

Some people wrongly teach that baptism is essential to salvation and without baptism, you will not go to heaven. Those people even quote verses from the Bible that they claim teach this false doctrine of baptismal regeneration. One example shows the error of baptismal regeneration. Consider the thief on the cross next to Jesus Christ. After that thief made a profession of faith while hanging on the cross, Jesus promised him that he would be with Jesus in paradise the same day. Of course the thief never received baptism, but went to paradise with Jesus (Luke 23:43, Page 1650). Also, consider Acts 10:44-48, Pages 1720-1721. In this passage, gentiles believed in the name of Jesus Christ, and they received forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43, Page 720). The Holy Spirit then fell upon those believers, and the new believers began speaking in known tongues, exalting God (Acts 10:46, Pages 1720-1721). Notice that these believers received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues before they were baptized. Therefore, because the people had received the Holy Spirit and were already speaking in tongues, we know from the text that they were already saved. Only believers have the Holy Spirit poured out upon them. Only believers speak in known tongues, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, exalting God. Notice, they were saved before they were baptized in this passage. Therefore, salvation came before baptism. The people were not baptized until Acts 10:48, Page 1721. So, no one can argue that you must be baptized to be saved, because the thief on the cross was saved, but never baptized, and the believers in Acts 10:44-48 were saved and then baptized. Acts 8:36 (Page 1715) “As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?'” Every Believer Baptized. Philip met a Ethiopian eunuch on a deserted road, and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with that eunuch. Immediately the eunuch believed and exclaimed that they had come upon water and he wanted to be baptized immediately.

Baptism: Believers Only

“But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” │ Acts 8:12, Page 1714

Infants lack the capacity to believe the Gospel, and so infant baptism does nothing for the infant. Because baptism symbolizes and proclaims your personal faith in Jesus Christ, infants can never have such faith because they lack the capacity to understand. Therefore, baptism applies only to believers of all ages. Some children can truly understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believe for salvation. They are valid candidates for baptism. If you have not been baptized after you have been born again in Jesus, then let us know and you can be baptized immediately (Acts 8:35-39, Page 1715).

Immersion

“Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;” │ Mark 1:10, Page 1558

Baptism means to be immersed. Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the Jordan river. He went into the river to be baptized. John baptized where there was much water. The Ethiopian eunuch went down into the water to be baptized. In the New Testament, the physical pattern of baptism symbolizes the spiritual reality of being baptized. God says that we have been baptized with Christ into His death, and resurrected from death to eternal life, so that we are free from sin (Romans 6:5-7, Page 1765; Colossians 2:12, Page 1843).

First Steps in Christ–Step Three–Baptism

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Welcome !

Welcome to Christ Assembly. As born-again believers, baptized by Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit, we love to glorify God through the study and application of His Word, the Bible. As we study the Bible, we seek to know God better, and to introduce others to the loving salvation of Jesus Christ received by faith alone.

We value the spiritual gifts bestowed upon every born-again Christian and seek to equip them for the work of service for Christ Jesus. Only through every saint using the spiritual gift(s) bestowed upon them will the body of Jesus Christ reach spiritual maturity and avoid being blown about by every wind of doctrine. May God have all the glory, always.
HALLELUJAH !

Spiritual Help

Eternal Life

People often ask me about how they can find spiritual peace. They tell me about their serious illness, divorce, drug addiction, alcoholism, and many other problems that grieve them. So many people share with me that they have never felt truly loved in their entire life, even though they have been married for decades, and have grandchildren. So many people feel a spiritual hunger and thirst within themselves. Jesus loves people and wants you to know all about His great love. He called it the greatest news anyone will ever hear. So, let me share with you about Jesus, Who loves you today. In Jesus, you can receive peace with God today. Jesus alone provides spiritual peace.

Romans 10:9

“Jesus asks you: ‘Why should I let you into My heaven?'”

Let me start with a question. Imagine you were to die today, and stand before Jesus Christ. Imagine further that Jesus looked at you and asked: “Why should I let you into My heaven?”
Take a moment and think about what you would say to Jesus. I have personally asked that question to hundreds and hundreds of people, if not thousands, one person at a time. Jesus always deals personally with you. He knows your name, and loves you personally. Jesus knows your good points and your bad points.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

As God in the flesh, Jesus totally understands who we are as sinners. Sinners fall short of the glory of God. Sin separates us from spiritual peace with God today. In God’s eyes, we all fall short of the glory of God. We do not act perfectly all of the time and so fall short of His glory. We tell lies, we think impure thoughts, we do things we know we should not have done. The road to peace with God starts with understanding that we all sin and we all fall short of the glory of God. As sinners, we tend to hide our sins in darkness, but Jesus helps us recognize that we are sinners and need to come into the light of God. We take the first steps down the path of peace with God by agreeing with God that we are sinners. God helps us walk down the path of peace with God by His divine power. Only by God’s power can I change my mind and accept the truth that I am a sinner. I must repent of my sin and seek God’s forgiveness for my sin. How do I find forgiveness?

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus, the Son of God, offers forgiveness to sinners as a gift. In order to have peace with God, we must receive God’s gift of forgiveness. Before we can grasp God’s offer of forgiveness, we must understand God’s justice and how it works. God tells us that justice imposes a penalty upon sin. God said that the wages of sin is death. Just as we earn wages for our work, so sin earns the wage of death. This spiritual death results from us sinning and falling short of the glory of God. God cannot remain just, and simply ignore our sin. Justice requires that every sin be paid by the death penalty. You have sinned so you deserve to die spiritually. Sin causes the spiritual death of the sinner. Now let us focus upon the gift of God: forgiveness. As a sinner, deserving death, I really do not deserve a gift of eternal life. Instead of death, God wants me to have eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yet, my sin blocks me from having eternal life. To sinners God loves to give the free gift of eternal life. Although I have earned the death penalty by sinning, God offers me eternal life as a free Christmas gift. I cannot earn the gift of eternal life, and I do not deserve the gift of eternal life. God just wants me to have His gift of eternal life. God purchased the gift of eternal life, just for me, the sinner. Why would God give me gift of eternal life?

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God gives the free gift of eternal life to sinners because God loves sinners like me. The road to peace with God means that I learn and accept that God loves sinners. Jesus came to love sinners. While I was a sinner, God loved me. So many people think that God hates sinners, but God tells us just the opposite right in this verse. I do not have to clean up my life before God will love me. God loves sinners. God gives the gift of eternal life to sinners, not to perfect people. You see, the gift of eternal life means that I believe that Jesus as God died for me on the cross. I recognize that I deserve the death penalty because I sinned, but Jesus took my place on the cross and died for all my sin. He satisfied God’s justice by paying the death penalty for me. God now offers me a free gift of eternal life, because Jesus loves sinners, and gave His life to die on the cross to pay for all my sins. Jesus demonstrated God’s love for sinners. How do I accept the free gift of God?

Romans 10:9

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

You accept the free gift of God by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. We believe that God told us the truth that we fall short of the glory of God because we are sinners. Wonderfully, God loves sinners just like me. God purchased the gift of eternal life for me. I reach out by faith alone to accept the free gift from God. I believe that God sent Jesus as God in the flesh to die for me on the cross. Jesus paid the death penalty for me. Jesus satisfied the justice of God. New life in Jesus Christ begins with faith and continues for eternity. You can accept the free gift of eternal life right now, no matter where you are. Pray this prayer of faith.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and fall short of the glory of God.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I deserve the death penalty. I repent of my sins.

Lord Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross in my place, because You loved me and paid the death penalty for me.

Lord Jesus, I confess you as Lord of my life.

Lord Jesus, I believe that God raised You from the dead. I accept right now Your gift of forgiveness for all my sins, and thank You for saving me.

Amen.

If you prayed that prayer in faith, please send me an email through the contact box below. I look forward to getting to know you and help you walk daily with Jesus Christ. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit of God comes into our lives and makes us new creations. You have an abundant life in front of you, filled with joy and peace with God. We must learn from Jesus, and He is humble and gentle with us.